Big B on being designated India's No.1 role model

You always suspected it to be true. And now when a survey done by Indicus Analytics confirms Amitabh Bachchan to be the no.1 role model of the country, you can only gawk at the man's staying power and strong hold over the nation and generations even though he's approaching 64.

"Why do we keep harping on the age factor?" exclaims the super-actor a tad impatiently. "I don't think my age has anything to do with the love that I get from my countrymen.

"One works hard to achieve and sustain a certain position. How people react to you and the place they accord you in their minds and hearts is entirely a matter of destiny."

The Indicus Analytics poll puts Bachchan ahead of Shah Rukh Khan, Sachin Tendulkar, Dhirubhai Ambani, A.P.J Kalam and Bill Gates who are also in the Top 10 list of role models.

Says Bachchan, "I don't know what the criteria for the poll was. But obviously it's a good feeling to be there. I'm grateful for the way fans continue to support me. And of course it puts responsibility on me. I believe every celebrity has a responsibility towards society. It's up to us to decide how we use tha.t status.

"A public entity has to be aware of his duties and obligations. I can't set guidelines for others. But yes, I do have my own do's and don'ts. And I hope I don't do anything that's indecorous. But you never know. I may make a mistake very soon."

He finds the mix of role models from various walks of life in the survey to be interesting. "There are business people, people from sports and entertainment. That shows how much the profile of the average role model has changed over the years. Mahatma Gandhi and Bill Gates are featured in the same list. So the least we can say about the survey is that it's democratic. At the end of the day these are evaluations that are imposed on some people through polls. Some wise people have elected me as the country's biggest role model. I respect their opinion. Titles such as this are flattering. But one shouldn't get carried away."

Speaking of role models who are Bachchan's role models? "Obviously my parents, my father. I haven't gone beyond that in search of a role model. On a professional level I've admired Mr Dilip Kumar and Waheedaji (Waheeda Rehman)."